by 
Chicago offers several routes into home health care, but Illinois makes the distinction between a Home Health Aide, a Certified Nursing Assistant, and a non-medical Home Services Worker particularly important.
For someone who wants to provide non-medical assistance such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, housekeeping, and companionship, an Illinois home services agency can provide relatively short employer-based training.
Home Health Aide work involving healthcare services is different.
Illinois recognizes individuals who complete an approved nurse aide training pathway, and becoming a CNA is one of the strongest ways to qualify for home-health-related employment while gaining a credential that can also be used in nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, hospice organizations, and other healthcare facilities.
Illinois-approved Basic Nursing Assistant Training Programs are substantial compared with those in many states.
They require at least 120 hours, including:
- 62 hours of theory
- 18 hours of laboratory and skills training
- 40 hours of clinical instruction
Programs generally cannot compress the basic curriculum into less than four weeks.
Fortunately, Chicago has many CNA programs, including inexpensive public-college training, accelerated private schools, and programs that qualify for workforce funding.
How Much Does Home Health Aide Training Cost in Chicago?
The answer depends heavily on which type of job you want.
If you want basic non-medical home-care work, an employer may provide the required Home Services Worker training after hiring you.
In that situation, you may spend little or nothing on school.
If you want the broader CNA route, Chicago training typically costs around $700 to $2,000 before every incidental expense is included.
Current examples include:
- Malcolm X College: approximately $672 base tuition for Chicago residents
- Career Training Center of Chicago: approximately $975 tuition
- First Step to Excellence: approximately $1,569 total published program cost
- International Career Institute: approximately $1,450 in tuition and school fees before additional requirements
- Wm. H. Loftin Education Consultants: approximately $1,780.50 tuition, with additional charges
The Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Examination currently costs $85.
Students can also spend money on:
- Background checks
- Fingerprinting
- Drug screening
- Physical examination
- TB screening
- Immunizations
- CPR/BLS
- Books
- Uniforms
- Shoes
- Stethoscope
- Blood pressure cuff
- Gait belt
For most self-paying Chicago CNA students, a realistic all-in budget is approximately $1,000 to $2,200.
Home Health Aide vs. Home Services Worker in Chicago
This distinction matters more in Illinois than it does in many other states.
A Home Services Worker provides non-medical assistance designed to help someone remain safely at home.
Services can include:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Grooming
- Meal preparation
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- Shopping
- Mobility assistance
- Companionship
A Home Services Worker may happen to be a CNA or HHA by education, but the worker’s duties are still limited to the non-medical services allowed under the home-services rules.
Illinois requires home services agencies to provide or arrange at least 10 hours of initial training for these workers.
At least 5 hours must be completed before the worker’s first assignment.
The remaining 5 hours must be completed during the worker’s first 30 days of employment.
After the first year, workers generally need at least 10 hours of training annually.
That is obviously much shorter than the 120 hours required for Illinois CNA training.
The reason is that the jobs have different scopes.
A Home Health Aide working within a healthcare-oriented home health or home nursing environment can perform health-related duties under appropriate nursing supervision.
For someone who wants maximum career flexibility, the CNA pathway is substantially stronger.
Illinois CNA Training Requirements
Illinois requires an approved Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program to contain at least 120 hours.
The current minimum breakdown is:
- 62 hours of theory
- 18 hours of laboratory and skills instruction
- 40 hours of clinical instruction
The curriculum also requires at least 12 hours covering Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Students generally cannot complete a standard program in less than four weeks.
Clinical training comes after students have completed the required classroom and laboratory preparation.
Students must also successfully demonstrate the required nursing-assistant skills.
After completing training, graduates take the Illinois written competency examination.
The exam can currently be taken in either English or Spanish.
Illinois CNA Exam Cost
The current Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Examination costs: $85
A failed-exam retake also costs: $85
A no-show or rescheduling charge is: $55
The examination must generally be completed within 12 months of finishing the training program.
Illinois is slightly different from several states because the CNA competency process centers on a written state examination after students have already demonstrated the required practical skills through their approved training program.
CNA Admission and Background Requirements
Illinois places considerable importance on background screening for healthcare workers.
Someone entering a CNA program needs a criminal background check.
A person with a disqualifying conviction may not be allowed to complete training unless an appropriate waiver is granted.
Students must also have no administrative findings involving abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property.
Illinois also requires CNA candidates to have completed at least the eighth grade or demonstrate equivalent knowledge.
Individual schools can impose additional requirements.
A private CNA school may require a high school diploma even though Illinois itself permits students with less formal education to qualify.
That makes it important to check the admission policy of the individual program rather than assuming every Chicago CNA school has identical requirements.
Can You Get Free CNA Training in Chicago?
Yes, under the right circumstances.
The first place to look is an employer.
Some nursing facilities operate training programs or hire nurse aides in training and sponsor their education.
Illinois allows a person who is not yet certified to work as a nurse aide in training under specific conditions.
The worker generally needs to enter an approved CNA program within 45 days of being hired and must satisfy registry requirements within the applicable time period.
Workforce funding is another option.
Several Chicago CNA schools participate in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act system.
First Step to Excellence and International Career Institute are examples of programs connected with workforce funding opportunities.
Depending on employment status, income, and workforce eligibility, a student may be able to have some or all training costs covered.
Before paying $1,500 in cash, I would check:
- Illinois workNet
- American Job Centers
- Chicago workforce programs
- Nursing homes hiring nurse aides in training
- Employer tuition reimbursement
- City Colleges assistance programs
A few phone calls can potentially eliminate most of the training expense.
Home Health Aide Salary in Chicago
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area currently earn a median wage of approximately:
- $18.36 per hour
That equals approximately:
- $38,180 per year
for full-time year-round employment.
The local wage distribution is approximately:
- 10th percentile: $16.84 per hour
- 25th percentile: $17.86 per hour
- Median: $18.36 per hour
- 75th percentile: $18.63 per hour
- 90th percentile: $20.43 per hour
These figures combine Home Health and Personal Care Aides within the occupational wage category.
Chicago wages are somewhat higher than the national median of $17.21 per hour for the occupation.
The tradeoff, of course, is Chicago’s higher cost of living compared with many smaller Midwestern cities.
CNA Salary in Chicago
Nursing Assistants generally earn considerably more.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area’s current median CNA wage is approximately:
- $22.57 per hour
- or:
- $46,940 per year
The local distribution is approximately:
- 10th percentile: $18.74 per hour
- 25th percentile: $20.65 per hour
- Median: $22.57 per hour
- 75th percentile: $23.59 per hour
- 90th percentile: $26.18 per hour
The median difference between the CNA and HHA/PCA wage is approximately:
- $4.21 per hour
For a full-time worker, that represents roughly:
- $8,760 more per year.
That is a significant gap considering that several Chicago CNA programs can be completed in only four to six weeks.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Home Health Aide in Chicago?
For basic non-medical home services work, entry can be extremely fast.
Illinois requires only 10 hours of initial agency training for a Home Services Worker, with the first 5 hours completed before the first assignment and the remaining 5 within the first 30 days.
CNA training takes longer.
Illinois requires at least 120 hours, and standard programs generally cannot be completed in less than four weeks.
Current Chicago examples include:
- Career Training Center of Chicago: approximately 4 to 5 weeks
- First Step to Excellence: approximately 6 weeks
- International Career Institute: approximately 4 to 8 weeks
- Malcolm X College: commonly offered through 8-week or semester formats
After completing training, students still need to pass the $85 Illinois competency examination.
For most students, roughly one to two months is a realistic time frame for moving from no healthcare credential to completing CNA training.
HHA or CNA: Which Is Better in Chicago?
If your only goal is getting a basic home-care job as quickly as possible, becoming a Home Services Worker can make sense.
Employer training is short and may cost nothing.
But it provides much less career flexibility.
CNA certification makes it possible to pursue positions in:
- Home health
- Nursing homes
- Rehabilitation centers
- Hospitals
- Assisted living communities
- Hospice
- Long-term care
- Private-duty care
The wage difference also matters.
Chicago’s median Home Health and Personal Care Aide wage is about $18.36 per hour, while the median Nursing Assistant wage is approximately $22.57.
Spending four to eight weeks completing CNA school could therefore provide access to jobs paying several dollars more per hour.
For someone who expects to remain in healthcare for more than a few months, the CNA route is generally the stronger investment.
Which Chicago Program Offers the Best Value?
For Chicago residents, Malcolm X College is difficult to beat on tuition.
Its current BNA rate works out to approximately $672 for the 8-credit certificate before clinical and certification expenses.
Career Training Center of Chicago is one of the most affordable private alternatives.
Its current state-listed tuition is approximately $975, and the program can be completed in about four to five weeks.
First Step to Excellence is a strong choice for South Side students and may be particularly attractive to people who qualify for workforce funding.
International Career Institute offers more scheduling flexibility, but students should budget closer to $1,800 to $2,000 after adding tuition, books, equipment, screening, and examination expenses.
Wm. H. Loftin Education Consultants is also more expensive, with tuition around $1,780.50, but books and a uniform are included and both daytime and evening schedules are available.
For someone whose ultimate goal is home health, I would generally choose an Illinois-approved CNA program rather than spend substantial money on a generic online Home Health Aide certificate.
Illinois already provides a very short pathway for non-medical home-care workers.
If you are going to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars in formal training, earning the CNA credential gives you considerably more employment flexibility and, based on current Chicago wage data, potentially much better earning power.
1 Malcolm X College
Malcolm X College, part of City Colleges of Chicago, offers an Illinois-approved Basic Nursing Assistant certificate.
Students receive classroom, laboratory, and supervised clinical instruction covering the fundamental skills required of a nursing assistant.
Training includes areas such as:
- Personal care
- Activities of daily living
- Infection prevention
- Patient safety
- Communication
- Mobility
- Basic nursing skills
- Restorative care
- Observation and reporting
- Residents’ rights
Graduates who complete the program can take the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Examination and pursue placement on the state’s Health Care Worker Registry.
Program Length
The certificate consists of one 8-credit course.
City Colleges schedules BNA classes several times each year, including first and second eight-week sessions as well as other semester formats.
Theory classes are generally held three or four days per week for approximately 5.5 hours per day.
Students must also complete at least 40 hours of supervised clinical training at an outside clinical site.
Morning and evening sections are available during selected terms.
Cost
For the 2026-2027 academic year, Chicago residents registering at the current tuition rate pay $84 per credit for the Basic Nursing Assistant course.
At 8 credits, base tuition is approximately: $672
Out-of-district tuition is approximately $137 per credit, or $1,096 for the 8-credit certificate.
Students should not treat the $672 Chicago-resident figure as the complete cost.
Additional expenses can include:
- Textbooks
- Uniform
- Physical examination
- Immunizations
- Healthcare Worker Background Check
- Drug screening
- CPR/BLS
- Clinical software
- Illinois CNA examination
The current Illinois competency examination costs $85.
A Chicago resident should realistically budget roughly $900 to $1,300 after adding the normal clinical and certification expenses.
Admission Requirements
The BNA program uses selective admission.
Students should expect requirements involving:
- Healthcare Worker Background Check
- Medical examination
- Immunization documentation
- 10-panel drug screening
- American Heart Association BLS/CPR certification
Students also need to complete the program’s application process before enrolling in the BNA course.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Malcolm X College is one of the strongest values for someone who actually lives in Chicago.
At approximately $672 in base tuition, it can cost hundreds of dollars less than many private CNA schools.
It also makes sense for students who see CNA or home health work as a first step toward nursing.
Malcolm X is heavily focused on healthcare education, so a student who eventually wants to pursue practical nursing, registered nursing, or another medical occupation is already studying within a larger healthcare college.
Address: 1900 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60612
2 Career Training Center of Chicago
Career Training Center of Chicago offers an Illinois-approved Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program.
Students receive theory, laboratory instruction, and clinical experience in an actual nursing facility.
Training covers the nursing assistant’s role within the healthcare team and prepares students to provide basic care safely under the supervision of licensed nurses.
Program Length
The program normally takes approximately 5 weeks.
Students with perfect attendance may be able to finish in approximately 4 weeks.
Morning theory classes are generally scheduled Tuesday through Thursday from approximately 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Evening classes generally meet Monday through Thursday from 5:00 PM to 9:45 PM
Clinical education is typically conducted on Saturdays.
This schedule can work particularly well for people who need to keep a weekday job while training.
Cost
Current Illinois workforce information lists tuition at approximately $975.
Additional expenses include approximately:
- $37.25 for criminal background screening
- $85 for the Illinois competency examination
That produces a minimum cost of about:
$1,097
before books, uniforms, shoes, a stethoscope, thermometer, physical examination, or other health requirements.
The school’s own published pricing has historically been slightly lower, so prospective students should confirm the current cohort price before paying a deposit.
Admission Requirements
Applicants need to:
- Complete an application
- Have completed at least eighth grade
- Speak and understand English
- Pass a reading assessment
- Complete a criminal background check
A physical examination is also required, including appropriate health testing and immunization documentation.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Career Training Center of Chicago is one of the less expensive private-school options in the city.
The four-to-five-week schedule is also significantly faster than taking a CNA course over an entire college semester.
Evening classes and Saturday clinicals make the schedule particularly useful for students who cannot stop working while they train.
Address: 3525 West Peterson Avenue, Suite T-21, Chicago, IL 60659
3 First Step to Excellence Healthcare Training Academy
First Step to Excellence Healthcare Training Academy offers an Illinois-approved Basic Nursing Assistant program on Chicago’s South Side.
Students receive classroom instruction and clinical experience designed to prepare them for the Illinois CNA competency examination.
The program provides the full training needed for students entering the occupation without previous nursing education.
First Step is also approved as a workforce training provider, which can be important for students trying to qualify for employment-training assistance.
Program Length
The program contains 120 hours.
Training takes approximately 6 weeks.
This provides enough time to complete the classroom, laboratory, and clinical portions required under Illinois regulations.
Cost
Published workforce-program figures list:
- Tuition: $950
- Books: $117
- Fees: $138
- Testing: $75
- Materials, supplies, uniforms, and other expenses: $289
Estimated total:
$1,569
The Illinois competency examination is currently $85 rather than the older $75 amount appearing in some program listings, so I would budget approximately $1,579 if every other expense remains unchanged.
The school’s current website also lists a $325 registration payment for its Basic Nurse program, with payment plans available for the remaining balance.
Admission Requirements
Students should expect the requirements associated with Illinois CNA training, including:
- Criminal background screening
- Identification
- Medical clearance
- TB testing
- Appropriate immunizations
- Ability to participate safely in clinical care
Prospective students should also confirm current academic admission requirements before enrolling.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
First Step is particularly interesting for students who may qualify for WIOA workforce assistance.
A $1,500 program can become much more attractive if workforce funding covers some or all of the cost.
Its South Side location is also considerably more convenient for students living in neighborhoods such as Chatham, Avalon Park, South Shore, Calumet Heights, or South Chicago than schools on the North Side.
Address: 1639 East 87th Street, Chicago, IL 60617
4 International Career Institute
International Career Institute is located immediately north of Chicago and operates an Illinois-approved Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program.
Its CNA course specifically prepares students for employment in:
- Nursing homes
- Hospitals
- Private homes
- Other healthcare facilities
The curriculum includes personal care, basic nursing skills, restorative services, communication, mental health and social services, and residents’ rights.
Clinical partnerships throughout the Chicago area provide students with hands-on patient-care experience.
Program Length
The CNA curriculum contains 120 hours.
Training includes approximately:
- 80 hours of theory and laboratory education
- 40 hours of clinical experience
Depending on the schedule selected, the program can generally be completed in approximately 4 to 8 weeks.
The school offers multiple scheduling options, including accelerated and more flexible formats.
Cost
Current advertised tuition is $1,250.
A more detailed enrollment breakdown lists:
- Tuition: $1,250
- Registration fee: $100
- Laboratory fee: $100
That brings school tuition and fees to approximately:
$1,450
Students may also need:
- CPR: approximately $50
- Textbook and workbook: approximately $120
- Scrubs: approximately $60
- Nursing kit: approximately $60
- Background check: approximately $65
- Physical examination
- Immunization titers
- TB testing
- State competency examination: $85
Adding only the published fixed expenses brings the total to around $1,890 before a physical, titers, or TB testing.
Payment plans are available.
Admission Requirements
Students need to complete the school’s admission process and healthcare requirements.
These include:
- Admission assessment
- Physical examination
- TB screening
- Background check
- Clinical eligibility documentation
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
International Career Institute costs more than several Chicago competitors, but it offers considerable scheduling flexibility.
Students can choose accelerated classes or stretch the program across a longer schedule.
The school also offers Patient Care Technician and practical nursing pathways, which may appeal to students planning to build on CNA training later.
Its location near Chicago’s Northwest Side can also be significantly more convenient for students in neighborhoods such as West Ridge, North Park, Albany Park, Sauganash, and Lincoln Square.
Address: 6425 North Hamlin Avenue, Lincolnwood, IL 60712
5 Wm. H. Loftin Education Consultants
Wm. H. Loftin Education Consultants offers a state-approved Nursing Assistant program on Chicago’s South Side.
The course includes theory, laboratory practice, and clinical education.
Students study subjects such as:
- Basic nursing care
- Personal care
- Vital signs
- Infection prevention
- Nutrition
- Documentation
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Body mechanics
- Patient transfers
- Admission and discharge
- Communication
- Legal and ethical responsibilities
Students also receive clinical experience working with the types of patients they may encounter after graduation.
Program Length
The school offers day and evening schedules.
Current 2026 day classes generally meet Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Evening classes generally meet Wednesday through Friday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Weekend classes may also be available.
Clinical hours are mandatory and may be scheduled outside the student’s normal classroom schedule.
Cost
Current tuition is approximately $1,780.50.
Books and a uniform are included.
A non-refundable registration fee of approximately $163 is required.
Students should also plan for costs that are not included, such as:
- Fingerprinting
- Background check
- CPR
- Drug screening
- Blood pressure cuff
- Stethoscope
- Thermometer
- Gait belt
- Shoes
- Illinois competency examination
With the $85 state examination and $163 registration charge alone, the student’s cost rises to approximately $2,028.50 before the remaining health and equipment expenses.
Payment plans are available.
Admission Requirements
Students should expect both school admission requirements and clinical eligibility requirements.
Because students provide direct patient care, background screening, medical documentation, and other healthcare requirements must be completed before participating in clinical training.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Wm. H. Loftin is not the cheapest Chicago option.
Its advantage is that books and a uniform are included, payment plans are available, and students can choose between daytime and evening schedules.
The program may be especially convenient for people living in Beverly, Auburn Gresham, Ashburn, Evergreen Park, or other parts of southwest Chicago.
Address: 1909 West 87th Street, Chicago, IL
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | Malcolm X College |
|
#2 | Career Training Center of Chicago |
|
#3 | First Step to Excellence Healthcare Training Academy |
|
#4 | International Career Institute |
|
#5 | Wm. H. Loftin Education Consultants |
Read the full guide: How to Become a Home Health Aide
HHA Schools by City
HHA Schools by State